Acknowledged by UNESCO as Heritage of humankind in 1982, the Historic Centre of Florence, enclosed by a circle of avenues traced out on the medieval city walls, assembles the most important cultural goods of Florence. Encircled by the trace of the wall of the 14th century and built due to
commercial and economic power, it reached its highest splendour in the following two centuries. The religious centre of the city is Piazza del Duomo with the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore flanked by the bell tower of Giotto and the Baptistry of San Giovanni with the gates of Paradise by Lorenzo Ghiberti opposite the church. Northward, the Palace Medici-Riccardi by Michelozzo, the Basilica of San Lorenzo by Brunelleschi with the precious sacristies by Donatello and Michelangelo convene; furthermore, the Museum of San Marco, with the masterpieces of Fra Angelico, the Gallery of the Academia which houses besides others the David by Michelangelo, and the Piazza della Santissima Annunziata with the loggia degli Innocenti by Brunelleschi can be found in this zone. From the Dome southward there is the politic-cultural centre of Florence with Palazzo Vecchio and the nearby Gallery degli Uffizi, close to which lies the Museum del Bargello and the Basilica di Santa Croce. Crossing Ponte Vecchio one arrives in the quarter of Oltrarno with the palace of Palazzo Pitti and the garden di Boboli. Still in Oltrarno, one must not forget the Basilica di Santo Spirito by Filippo Brunelleschi and the Basilica del Carmine, with frescoes by Masolino, Masaccio and Filippino Lippi. In the area westward the Dome, rise the impressive Palazzo Strozzi (location for important exhibitions and seat of well-known cultural institutions) and the Basilica di Santa Maria Novella with the facade designed by Leon Battista Alberti. The Historic Centre can be appreciated in its whole from the hills around, especially from Forte Belvedere, Piazzale Michelangelo with the romanic Basilica di San Miniato and from the hill of Fiesole that offers one of the most impressive views of the Arno valley.
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